Ham-Chat is used as a means of communication by some hamsters. It appears in the anime, Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite!, Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak, and more sparsely in Hamtaro: Rainbow Rescue.
Background[]
Ham-Chat is not a complete language, but rather a pidgin to be used in tandem with modern language. Many words require physical actions to perform in order to communicate the word's full meaning. Note that many hamsters do not use Ham-Chat at all, and some use it much more. Also, some hamsters have words of their own that no one else uses. Some examples of this are Boss' "dabba dabba", Cappy's "cappy-cappy" and Penelope's "ookwee!". It appears that Ham-Chat's use had dwindled in the series' timeline, as many hamsters stopped using its words altogether, or kept one word exclusively used by them.
Ham-Chat dictionaries have been made to help hamsters learn new words in order to communicate with others.
Words From the Anime[]
- Atata Achaa -I can't believe it happened. Oh no, I have been bad.
- Badda-Badda -Sound conveying the thumping of running feet.
- Bye-Q - "Goodbye".
- Cappy-Cappy- The running sound made by Cappy.
- Chick-ah-Chick-ah-Chick-ah - The walking or running sound made by hamsters.
- Daba-Daba (or Dobo-Dobo)-The walking or running sound made by Boss. The Japanese equivalent of this phrase is "Dabba-to!".
- Daplunk - Sound made when Boss jumps down from something.
- Diggi-Duggi - The sound made when the Ham-Hams dig a hole, scratch.
- Grooba! - An expression that conveys a lot of effort, putting your all into something.
- Hablah! - The word Auntie Viv uses to express frustration, like "Nuts!" or, "Darn!".
- Hamgoof - Sound used to convey disappointment.
- Ham-ha! - A greeting. Encompasses expressions like "good morning" or "hello". The hamsters' version of the Japanese expression "oha--!".
- Hamm-Hamm - Sound used when eating; but also used when hamsters are being petted.
- Heke? - Sound made when surprised or confused or when hamsters discover something. Similar to "huh?".
- Hif-Hif - Sound used when sniffing. The Japanese equivalent of this word is "kunka-kunka".
- Krrmp-Krrmp - Sound used to convey eating, like "munch-munch" or "crunch-crunch". The Japanese equivalent of this word is "mohi-mohi".
- Kushi-Kushi - Sound made when hamsters are embarrassed or shy; or when they are cleaning/grooming themselves, or scratching their heads.
- Ookyoo! (or Ookwee!) -The cute noise that Penelope makes. It's the only thing she can say.
- Oopaa! - Enthusiastic sound used when hamsters see something they desire and take off after it.
- Oowah - Sound used to convey sleepiness, like a yawn. The Japanese equivalent of this is "pero~n".
- Ouchichi - An expression of pain, like "Ouch! It hurts!".
- Paka-Paka - Sound used when a hamster takes a bite out of something. Crunchy sound. The Japanese equivalent of this word is "kaji-kaji".
- Schmubby-Wubby - The sound made when the hamsters show their affection for one another. They rub together. The word used in the Japanese version, "suri-suri," came from a Japanese word "Houzuri". It expresses ones affection for another. ('Hou' means cheek, 'Zuri' means to rub) It means "cheek to cheek" in English.
- Shashaa! - A combination of 'Kossori' - quietly; secretly; stealthily - and Kakureru - to hide. The meaning is "to hide." Of course, it is cute.
- Ticky-Ticky - The walking/running sound made by hamsters.
- Wasa-Wasa - Sound Ham-Hams make when walking.
- ZuZuZu - The sound of sleeping, like ZZZZ.
Ham-Chat from Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite![]
Word Meaning Action
Bestest Fantastic Spins and jumps in joy
Bizzaro Strange Question marks appear over Hamtaro's head
Blahh Tired Falls down in exhaustion
Blanko Forget Looks upward and moves head back and forth
Blash-T Angry Screams and stomps foot
Blissie Happy Dances
Bluhoo Sad Bursts out crying
Blushie Embarrassed Covers face in shame and blushes
Bye-Q Good-bye Waves happily
Chukchuk Give up Shakes head and sways
Clapclap Encore Stomps foot in happiness and raises arms
Cramcram Study Hold pencil and wears white headband
Delichu Delicious Stuffs cheeks with food
Digdig Dig Digs
Dingbang Noisy Covers ears as lightening bolts appear over Hamtaro's
head
Dundeal Sell Beats on counter while wearing white headband
Gasp-P Oh-no! Clasps face in shock
Giftee Give Comes out of gift box
Givehoo Ask for Extends hands outward
Goodgo Good luck Winks and waves
Gorush Hurry Runs in a panic
Go-P Bathroom Turn around and shakes
Grab-B Get Happily kicks outward
Greatchu Great Crosses arms, raises them upward, and then thrusts
them outward
Grit-T Courage Flames appear in eyes, jumps up, sticks arm out to the
side
Hamchu Kind Dances in a peaceful manner
Hamha Greeting Jumps up and waves
Hammo Friend Lays on back and waves arms
Hampact Promise Crosses hands over chest and moves head from side to
side
Hamsolo Lonely Scrunches nose and wipes tear from eye
Hamspar Enemy Flames appear over head
Hamtast Perfect Spins around and then thrusts out paw
Hamteam Cooperate Puts hands together and then shakes them on each side
of Hamtaro's body
Herk-Q Poweful Beats chest
Hiff Sniff Sniffs air
Hotchu Hot Turns red, sweats, and scrunches down
Huffpuff Carry Cheeks puff up
Hulahula Lollygag Moves as if hula dancing
Hushgo Reveal Rubs ear, causing water to come off
Hushie Secret Holds up sign with "no" symbol
Koochi-Q Pretty Widens eyes, slightly puffs out cheeks
Krmpkrmp Eat Stuffs food in mouth, causing cheeks to puff up
Lookie Look Eyes widen and looks around
Lotsa Many Multiplies several times
Meep-P Regret Eyes fill with moisture, turns around, and shakes
Mega-Q Big Makes wide arc with arm
Mingile Play Walks back and forth with hands extended and jumps up
and down
Nogo No can do Extends hands to side, shakes head
Nokrmp-P Hungry Sits down and rubs stomach
Nopibloo Don't fret Balls up hands and moves back and forth
Nopookie Dislike Runs around frantically with a lightining bolt over
Hamtaro's head
Noworrie Relax Collapse backward with a swiggly line over Hamtaro's
head
No-P No Crosses hands over chest
Oopsie Sorry Puts head down and sobs
Ouchichi Ouch Waves arm frantically with a huge bump on Hamtaro's
head
Pakapaka Bite Turns around and bites something
Panic-Q Scary Hair stands on end
Perksie Listen Ears fold down
Pooie Uncool Hands hang down
Pookie Like Looks over sholder, hearts appear overhead
Scoochie Climb Climbs upward on four paws
Scrit-T Scratch Turns around and scratches something
See-tru Invisible Covers eyes and then turns clear
Shashaa Hide Spins around and hides behind a stone wall
Shockie Surprise Jumps up and screams in shock
Smidgie Almost Raises hands then thrusts them out
Smoochie Love Puts hand together, becomes surrounded by hearts
Soak-Q Wet Rain falls on Hamtaro
Sparklie Delight Jumps up and down in delight with arms raised
Spiffie Stylish Sparkles surround Hamtaro as he stands with one hand on
his hip
Stickie Poke Turns around and pokes something with a stick
Tack-Q Roll Turns around and rolls into something
Ta-dah Show Extends arms out
Teenie Small Scrunchs down
Thank-Q Thank you Jumps up and down
Tootru Really Nods head
Tuggie Tug Turns around and pulls on something
Twintoo Identical Two transparent Hamtaros appear
Wait-Q Wait Hamtaro taps foot
Whawha Frantic Runs back and forth spitting
Wishie Beg Kneels and clasps hands together with widened eyes
Wit-T Funny Sticks hands in mouth and then starts rubbing
stomach and laughing
Wondachu Wonderful Brings hands down then turns to the side and winks
Yep-P Yes Puts hands on head
Zuzuzu Sleep Puts head on hands and shuts eyes
Ham-Chat from Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak[]
Most of these phrases are done by both Hamtaro and Bijou, and some require more than one hamster to perform. The list is incomplete.
| Word | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Bestest | Fantastic | Spins and jumps for joy. |
| Bizzaroo | Strange | Question marks appear over their heads. |
| Bluhoo | Sad | Eyes water, then bursts out crying while tears (or sweatdrops) appear |
| Blushie | Embarrass | Covers face in shame and blushes. |
| Blanko | Forget | Looks upward and moves head back and forth with closed eyes. |
| Blash-T | Angry | Screams and stomps foot. |
| Bloat-T | Bloated | Stuffs their mouths with "food" and become bloated and lie down |
| Clingie | Cling | Bijou jumps on top of Hamtaro and mimic clinging a rope/vine |
| Delin-Q | Bad | Spins and turns around, wearing sunglasses while making taunting faces
with the Japanese expression mark for "angry" on their foreheads |
| Fussfuss | Worry | US: Sways from side to side with worried faces before sitting down |
| JP: Similar but wearing pineapple costumes while swaying. | ||
| Hamspar | Enemy | Giant flame burns behind them while making angry faces |
| Hamscope | Aim | |
| Hamtast | Perfect | US: Spins around and then thrusts out paw. |
| JP: | ||
| Hamteam | Cooperate | |
| Hardihar | Laughing | |
| Heyhoo | Call out | |
| Hif-Hif | Sniffing | Sniffs the air from left to right |
| Hulahula | Lollygag | |
| Koochi-Q | Cute | Turns around and makes cute eyes while wiggling |
| Lalalala | Singing | Sways while singing. Music notes hover around them. |
| Liber-T | Freedom | Spins and dons a Statue of Liberty costume and waves torch before spinning again and losing the costume. |
| Lost-T | Lost | Looks from left to right, returns to the front with a shocked face |
| Mega-Q | Big | Grows big and makes a wide arc with paw |
| Minglie | Play | |
| Nok-nok | Knocking | Turns around and mimics knocking a door |
| No-P | No | |
| Oopsie | Sorry | Eyes water, and bows head while tears (or sweatdrops) appear |
| Pakapaka | Bite | Turns around and bites object. Bijou makes a cheering motion. |
| Perksie | Listen | Wiggles ears slowly |
| Pooie | Uncool | Closes eyes and mopes |
| Pushie | Shove/Push | Turns around and mimics pushing something |
| Rubrub | Polish | Pulls out a towel each and rubs the other, polishing them |
| Scoochie | Climbing | Climbs up an object |
| Wait-Q | Wait | US: Closes eyes and taps right foot on the ground |
| JP: | ||
| Wake-Q | Wake Up | |
| Yep-P | Yes | Puts paws on head. |
| Zuzuzu | Sleep | Cradles head in paws and shuts eyes. |
Trivia[]
- In Ham-Hams Unite!, if the player ends the game by going back to the title screen, Hamtaro would usually say Bye-Q to the player.
- The same happens in Ham-Ham Heartbreak too, but he's joined by Bijou for saying Bye-Q.